To put it in simple
terms, back or spine pain can threaten us in two ways. The first (and most
worrying) factors are those that we cannot control. This may include:
·
Being middle-aged or older
·
Having a family history of back pain
·
Having suffered a back injury before
·
Being pregnant. A woman's back is significantly stressed by carrying a
baby
·
Having had a compression fracture of the spine
·
Having had back surgery before
·
Having congenital spine problems (problems present since birth).
Even though
uncontrollable risk factors often cause the most worry, the majority of people
who experience back ache or pain do so as a result of external/ lifestyle
influences. Remember that up to 80% of people suffer from back ache at some
point or another. Out of that 80%, only a small portion of people would have
had back problems since birth, been pregnant or suffered compression fractures
of the spine. Only a small percentage would have experienced back problems as a
result of uncontrollable risks. In other words, many people are at risk of
developing back pain because of the lifestyle choices they make. These may
include:

·
Having a job or doing an activity that requires long periods of sitting,
heavy lifting, bending or twisting.
·
Smoking. People who smoke are more likely to develop back pain.
·
Being overweight. Excess body weight, especially around the waist, puts
excess strain on the spine which can lead to weak muscles, poor flexibility and
pain.
·
Having poor posture. Slumping or slouching can cause back pain and
worsen an existing strained or injured back. The correct posture generally
means your ears, shoulders, and hips are in a straight line. If this posture
causes you pain, you may have another condition such as a problem with a disc
or bones in your back.
·
Being under stress. Stress and other emotional factors can play a major
role in back pain, particularly chronic low back pain. Many people naturally
tighten their back muscles when they are under stress.
·
Playing certain sports. High intensity activities such as skiing,
snowboarding, sledding, tobogganing and gymnastics come with a high risk of
injury. Wrestling and other contact sports such as football and rugby also
increase the risk for developing back problems as a result of injuries. These
injuries can result in back pain either through direct injury to back, or
through injury to other parts of the body that cause abnormal stress on the
back.
Even though back
ache is common, it's important to remember that it isn't normal. Pain
is your body's way of telling you that something isn't quite right. There will
always be a reason for your back pain, even if you haven't found it yet.